The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1887-01-24

The Customs Observed Among the An.
clients and the M0derns.

The Customs Observed Among the An
clients and the Moderns.
Tt ia related by Sir Walter Scott, IN
one of his great historical novels, that a
certain chieftain possessed such strength
that he was able to crush the hand OF
any ona offered TO him by way OF saluta..
zion. That this is no mere exaggeration
ia evidenced from the fact that there are
many cases on record illustrating the
Samson-like grip of such persons, and
their address otherwise IN court and on
the field.
The various forms Of salutation have
always been Of much interest. 10 early
Bible times, the record reads that Essu
ran to meet Jacob, his brother, and fell
upon his neck and kissed him. The EN-
brace and the kiss were certainly among
the first exhibitions of fraternal affection.
If the Hebrew habit was that, so 1t can
be quoted from the Blind old man OF
Scio's rocky isle, Homer, in the Odyssey,
that when the hero of that grand epic
made himself known to his friends, they
placed their arms about Ulysses and
showered kisses upon his head, hands
and shoulders. The sign OF affection be-
came in time restricted to relatives and
those by the sacred rites OF marriage soon
to be related
In New Testament times the holy kiss
was enioined upon the brethren. Among
less cultured peoples, the rubbing OF
noses was held in high esteem, and it is
told by travellers that even to this day
ia pats of Africa the shifting or nose.
rubbing custom prevails. as also among
Indo- Chinese races. Mongols and others,
while the Esquimaux and Laplanders fol-
dow the same habit.
In many places the kiss is popular, and
men kiss each other as an expression OF
their regard. 1t is quite common in
Continental Europe for parents and near
relatives to quit their family and friends
with kiss ON each cheek. The custom
OF kissing the head is also very venerable,
and has been in vogue time out of mind
The right hand of fellowship is extend
ed in most churches upon receiving mem
bers into the communion. When cand-
dates for ordination or for any important
step in the course of Christian life are
accepted, the second chapter Of Galatians
comes to mind, and the right hand of fel.
lowship is extended. There is DO doubt
but that this custom Of extending the
right hand was introduced into all mod
ern Christian nations. 1t is based upon
the scripture narrative and epistle, and
while possibly not wholly new, still was
given higher significance through the
New Testament forms. The Indians of
the plains and the mountains of the West
have the universal "How" and the grasp
OF the hand, which they have borrowed
from the white man. This habit has be-
come fixed among almost every uncivi.
lized people.
1t is recognized as the proper act. no
ceremony is complete without it, and it
is like the tobacco among the tribes, the
sine qua non OF all ceremonies, the sign
that must proceed allnntercourse. In
the early days in the Mississippi Valley
the jesuit missionaries said the Illinois
Indians met them with both their hands
and arms held high in the air. This also
was the greeting they gave the sun, Wau-
bun, on his appearing in the morning,
The sign of welcome and amty has ever